Change on exploratory well rules on Butte board's agenda

OROVILLE >> Butte County supervisors Tuesday are going to consider a revision to the existing water well ordinance aimed at keeping people from misusing "exploratory wells."

According, to county documents the idea of exploratory wells arose in the early 2000s.

Then the wells were to allow potential purchasers or developers of land to determine if there was an adequate supply of groundwater prior to major investments.

Exploratory wells go through the same permitting process and must conform to the same construction standards as any other well. The only difference is the exploratory well permit does not confer further development rights on the property.

The issue of exploratory wells became a problem in recent years when the water from these wells was used for unpermitted purposes, including marijuana gardens.

In November the supervisors asked the county Department of Public Health to develop rules requiring exploratory wells to be capped and inspected annually to show they are not being misused.

The proposed ordinance amendment also requires property owners with exploratory wells to obtain annual maintenance permits from county Environmental Health with a current inspection report by a "certified maintenance specialist."

The public hearing on the change is a "time certain" item on Tuesday's agenda that is supposed to take place at 9:40 a.m.